Sociology at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's sociology program produces earnings that sit slightly above the national median but trail the Ohio average by nearly $3,000—placing it in just the 40th percentile among the state's 46 sociology programs. While $37,292 four years out isn't catastrophic, it's substantially below what graduates earn at Ohio State ($38,034), Cincinnati ($42,507), and Miami ($43,150). The debt load of $25,575 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, but when you're earning in the mid-$30,000s, that 0.74 debt ratio still means you're dedicating a meaningful chunk of income to loan payments during those early career years.

The 8% earnings growth from year one to year four is modest but steady, suggesting some career progression rather than stagnation. However, for an open-access university serving a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients (39%), the program doesn't appear to be delivering the kind of mobility boost that would justify taking on debt. Sociology majors face challenging labor market realities everywhere, but Cleveland State graduates are landing toward the bottom half of outcomes within Ohio.

If your child is committed to sociology and Cleveland State for other reasons (location, family circumstances, cost considerations), this isn't a financial disaster. But if the goal is maximizing earnings potential with a sociology degree in Ohio, the data suggests looking at the state's flagship campuses or selective privates where graduates are earning $5,000-$8,000 more annually.